Resurrection
Gulf Coast, 2021
9/10
The always exceptional Mike Zito is back again, and he’s got Doug Byrkit (bass), Lewis Stephens (keys), Zach Zito (acoustic guitar) and many others with him for a very personal album that mixes in some well done covers, too.
Zito starts the listen with the smooth and agile sounds of the flowing “I’ll Make Love To You”, where punchy drumming from Matthew Johnson and melodic guitar work suits his warm singing, and “Don’t Bring Me Down” follows with a rugged blues rocker that showcases Zito’s sturdy guitar work amid his soulful pipes.
Deeper into the listen, the calm “In My Blood” welcomes soothing backing vocals in the expressive climate, while “Presence Of The Lord” brings a soaring landscape of booming rock amid the gospel flavored delivery. “You Don’t Have Me”, the album stand out, then recruits a playful Americana spirit to the tuneful, dance floor ready rocker.
Landing near the end, the gritty “Evil” emits much muscle into a versatile blues template, and the title track exits the listen with much beauty as Zito and company finish with a heartfelt, emotive and even stirring finish.
It seems like every new Zito album becomes the current career highlight, and this one’s no exception. The sparing use of Eric Demmer’s saxophone and Fernando Castillo’s trumpet, as well as Lisa Andersen’s backing vocals, are an effective touch, and certainly help cement Resurrection as a blues masterpiece.
Travels well with: Sean Chambers- That’s What I’m Talkin About; Joe Bonamassa- Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman